Poultry gizzard skinner



Dec. 9, 1952 M. l. DARROW Erm.

POULTRY GIZZARD SKINNER Filed Dec. 12, 1949 JNvENToRs lo le A A TTORNEY Patented Dec. 9, 19:52

POULTRY GIZZARD SKINNER Merritt I. Darrow, Chicago, Guy R. Biddinger, Forest Park, and William J. Patterson, La Grange, Ill., assignors to Swift & Company, Chicago, Ill., a corporation of Illinois Application December 12, 1949, Serial No. 132,638

The present invention relates to an apparatus for removing the lining from poultry gizzards.

In the dressing of poultry for the market, par- 'ticularly that which is to be cut up, packaged, and frozen before distribution, it is desirable to have each portion of the bird completely prepared for cooking. The product is more salable if all the housewife has to do is to place it in the pans and cook it. To this end the gizzards of the birds are cut open and the inner lining of the gizzard removed before it is packaged and frozen.

The principal object of the present invention is -the quick and easy removal of the gizzard linings to speed the processing of poultry and to reduce the cost that is involved. A prototype of the present invention operated under normal plant condition will remove the linings of from 1200 to 1300 gizzards per hour. The saving in labor cost for a nominal capital expenditure is substantial and many of the employes presently working at this task may be transferred to other duties in connection with the processing of the poultry.

Other objects and advantages include: a device which is sufliciently simple to operate so that no special skills or operations are required of the employes; a device which will not clog or jam and which is simple and easy to clean at the end of a period of use; a device that is readily adapted for use with a power feed mechanism to carry the gizzards to and through the device; a device that is low in initial cost; and a device that will have little wear and requires substantially no maintenance.

Additional objects and advantages will become apparent from the following description taken in conjunction with the drawings in which:

Fig. 1 is a perspective view of an embodiment of the invention; and

Fig. 2 is an enlarged elevational section taken onthe line 2 2 of Fig. 1, looking in the direction of the arrows, with parts broken away and showing the feed plate in dotted lines in adjusted position.

Fig. 3 is a plan view of a portion of the pulling rollers.

As illustrated in Figs. 1 and 3, our invention includes a pair of rollers I and II which are rotated in opposite directions by a power means, generally I2. Thegizzard I3, which has been cut open, is placed with the lining I3a down on a feed plate I4 over which the gizzard is moved to the rollers I0 and II. After the gizzard lining has been removed, itis discharged over a conveyor or chute I6. The various parts of the device are mounted on a frame,v generally l1.

Each of the rollers I0 and II is formed with -a plurality of spaced annular ridges I8 having af generally cylindrical configuration and havingy two sides and a gizzard supporting surface on 'I'he rollers are journaled in frame Il in such a position that the periphery between the two sides.

the ridges of one of the rollers interdigitate with the ridges of the other of the rollers as illustratedv particularly in Fig. 3. 4

Ridges I 8 are slightly smaller in thickness than the width of the grooves, the intermediate spaces between the ridges. The maximum radius ,of the generally cylindrical ridge plus themaximumv radius of thel portion of the shaft intermediate." of the ridges is slightly less thanthe distance between the longitudinal axes of the two rollers.

Thus, a clearance is provided on all sides between the interdigitating pairs .of ridges.

cut therein. The notches I9 in adjacent ridges I8 are staggered as illustrated in Fig. 3. The size of the notches is approximatelyY 11g" wide and gli deep.

In some embodiments of the invention the. knurling or use of the notches I9, or both, mayv be disposed of. Rollers which do not have a roughened surface at the periphery of the ridges are safer in use because there is little likelihood', of tearing or otherwise abrading the lingers of the operators who are feeding the material into the machine.

However, the lack of the roughened surface., slows down the operation of the machine inasremoved, the rollers will `again catch the remainder of the lining and pull it between the rollers.

A clearance of approximately .003 of an inch between the periphery of the ridges and the bottom of the'l grooves, and .0015 of an inch between the sides of adjacent interdigitating ridges will be found' to be satisfactory although this maybe varied' somewhat in some embodiments of the invention.'A

The peripheries of the ridges I8 are knurled and have a plurality of transverse notches .19.

Furthermore, should only a portion of the f Even .y if only a portion of the lining should be initially The power means I2 includes an electric motor 26 and a suitable gear mechanism in gear case 21. Rollers I and II are connected to the gearing within case 21 so that the rollers will rotate in opposite directions with the rollers turning inwardly `toward ,eachother in the area across which *the .gizzard is passed `for the 1ining to be removed. The rolls preferably turn at a relatively low speed (about 230 R. P. M.) although the exact speed is not particularly critical and may be varied within reasonable limits.

Feed plat-e I4 is formed :withwapair'of side members 29 having a rounded *.znose with an opening 3'0 therein to fit around the shaft por,- tion of roller IIl. This structure ,permits the feed plate I4 to be pivoted about substantially the same axis as the longitudinal axis Aotroller I0 and maintained approximately parallel to the groller axis. -A-bracket 3l attached at one end.tof rame .l1 by me-ans of a pin V32 permits the y.angle ,of the table to beflxed with respect to.-the,vpar.. of .rollers `Il) and H. Bracket3l has a.-slot 33 -to receive a clamping bolt and a wing nutd inra ,well-known manner. By loosening the .wing nui-...34 the feed plate VI4 may be raised or lowered to .a -desired angle. If the incline of plate I4 is suiiicient the gizzards 4I3 may be moveddown theplate I4 by gravity.

,As ,theipair of rollersgrasp the .gizzard liningt and pullitaway from ,thegizzard -d-own between the l.pair .of rollers, .the gizzard issupported by the .top .of .theirdllersand is moved .across from feed ,plate .Islto .the .discharge conveyor-or chute IE. Thevchute is attached to frame I1, as by means of satwo .piece bracket 31 having a connecting ^`:Qin 38 therein. vThe chute vI6 may be pivotefd .about pin V33 `with respect to frame .I1. The ability `to pivot the chute .away from Vthe pairiof 1'ol1ers facilitates the-cleaning of the mai chine ...at the -end of a ,period .of use. The .gizzardsare discharged down the chute into a suitable `.receptacle .(not shown) by means of .gravity. IBelow the .rollers there is provided an opening ,3,9 .in Aframe 4I1'I to allow the linings .to fall Y`into a .suitable receptacle (not shown).

"Ifo facilitate the cleaning of the machine and to.strip any linings from the rollers should the former tend to stick to the rollers and revolve therewith there is .provided a p-air of combs 4.2 which l.Contact the shaft `portions of the rollers intermediate of the ridges I8. The combs are mounted on pillars A3 of frame I'1 and are .attaQhed thereto Vby stud bolts 44 s o that the `combs may Abe removed for cleaning if so de- Siled.

As has previously been explained, .the feed plate I4 may be inclined to allow the plate to act as Ya gravity'conveyor to rfeed the opened gizzards `I3 to the rollers. It will be apparent that with jfeed .plate VId in a horizontal position a number of power mechanical conveying devices may be Aused to move the gizzards to the rollers. With a Toughened periphery on the rollers the hand feeding `or gizzards to the rollers is not recommended because of the .danger `of injury to the operator. Sin-ce the rollers do take a hold of the lining and lmove it .down to the line of juncture 2l where Yit can vbe securely gripped between the interdigitating ridges, power feeding means `may be .readily used andan operator is fnotvrequired to insert an edge of .the lining between the rollers.

l the ,g-izzard is allowed to remain on top of the rollers, an abrading action will take place.

'4 However, the removal of the gizzard lining is accomplished by reason of the lining becoming pinched between the adjacent ridges of the rollers and being pulled from the gizzard proper down through the pair of interdigitating rollers `where it isdischarged through opening A39. By reason of this ,actien the lining'isgremoved without any material deleterious action on the giz- :Zard proper.

-pairof rollerseach having a plurality of spaced .annular nridges. thereaboua said ridges having two sides 'and '.asgzzard supporting surface on the periphery between the two sides, said roll ers 'being 'journale'd in said frame with the ridges @of one roller interdigitating with the ridges ci the other roller with the sides or" the ridges oi one roller `immediately adjacent the sides of the `ridges 'of the other roller with an intersticetherebetween, and gpower means .connested to said Urollers to rotate said 4rollers. `in opposite directions of rotation.

2. In ia device for removing the lining jfrom poultry gizzards, a pair of rollers, each of vsaid rollers having a plurality of Vannular ridges thereabout forming grooves Atherebetween with the `ridges or" one'roller `fitting into the grooves ofthe other roller, lsaid ridges having a 1face, at least a'portion of which is generally parallel to the roller, and being only slightly smaller in thickness than the distance between the two ridges on the other roller with which it interdigitates to eprov-ide -a small clearance between adjacent interdigitating ridges, the radius of each of said ridges plus the radius 4at the ybase of the -groove into which the ridge fits being slightly smaller 'than the vdistance between the longitudinal axes of the two rollers, and power means connected to said rollers to rotate :said rollers in opposite directions of rotation.

3. Adevice for removing the lining from poultry gizzards, said device including a frame, `a pair-of rollers each having a plurality of spaced annular ridges thereabout, said ridges `having two .sides vand a gizzard supporting Isurface on the 4periphery 'between the two sides, said rollers being journaled in said `frame with the ridges of :one 'roller interdigitating with the vridges of the `other 4roller with the sides of the ridges of one roller immediately adjacent the sides of the ridges of the other roller with an -interstice therebetween, power means connected to said rollers to rotate said rollers Vin opposite directions of rotation, 1a feed `plate adjacent one lside of one of said rollers, projecting generally away from the other of the rollers, and in a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said rollers whereby opened gizzards may be moved with the 'lining down across said plate to said rollers lwhere the rollers will vgrip said lining and .pull it between the yrollers `away from the gizzard, and means to the other side of said rollers vto receive the processed gizzards and to direct them into a suitable receptacle.

fl. A device for removing the lining from poultry vgizzards, said device including va frame, :a pair of 'rollers `each having a plurality of spaced annular ridges thereabout, said ridges having two sides and a gizzard supporting surface on the periphery between the two sides, said rollers being journaled in said frame with the ridges of one roller interdigitating with 'the ridges .of the other roller with the sides ci the ridges of one roller immediately adjacent the s'ides of the ridges of the other roller with an interstice therebetween, power means connected to said rollers to rotate said rollers in opposite directions of rotation, a feed plate adjacent one side lof one of said rollers, projecting generally away from the other of the rollers, andA in a plane substantially parallel to the longitudinal axis of said rollers whereby opened gizzards may be moved with the lining down across saidl plate to said rollers where the rollers will grip said lining and Vpull it between the rollers away from the gizzard, said plate being rotative about an axis substantially coinciding with the longitudinal axis of said one roller, means to hold said Iplate in various positions of rotation, and means to the other side of said rollers to receive the processed gizzards and to direct them into a suitable receptacle.

5. A device for removing the lining from poultry gizzards, said device including a frame, a pair of rollers each having a plurality of spaced annular ridges thereabout, said ridges having two sides and a gizzard supporting surface on the periphery between the two sides, said rollers being journaled in sai-d frame with the ridges of one roller interdigitating with the ridges of the other roller with the sides of the ridges of one roller immediately adjacent the sides of the ridges of the other roller with an interstice therebetween, power means connected to said rollers to rotate said rollers in opposite directions of rotation, a feed plate adjacent one side of one of said rollers, projecting generally away from the other of the rollers, and in a plane substantially parallel to thelongitudinal axis of said rollers whereby opened gizzards may be moved with the lining down across said plate to said rollers where the rollers will grip said lining and pull it between the rollers away from the gizzard, said frame having an opening therein below said rollers to allow said linings to drop therethrough and a discharge conveyor to the other side of the other of said rollers to receive the processed gizzards.

6. A device for removing the lining from poultry gizzards, said device including a frame, a pair of rollers each having a plurality of spaced annular ridges thereabout, said ridges having tw-o sides and a gizzard supporting surface on the periphery between the two sides, said rollers being journaled in said frame with the ridges of one roller interdigitating with the ridges of the other roller with the sides of the ridges oi one roller immediately adjacent the sides of the ridges of the other roller with an interstice therebetween, power means connected to said rollers to rotate said rollers in opposite directions of rotation, and a comb meshing with each of said rollers to strip the rollers of material tending to adhere thereto.

7. A device for removing the lining from poultry gizzards, said device including a frame, a pair of rollers each having a plurality of spa-ced annular ridges thereabout, said ridges having two sides and a gizzard supporting surface about the periphery between the two sides, said ridges having a roughened periphery, said rollers being journaled in said frame with the ridges of one roller interdigitating with the ridges of the other roller with the sides of the ridges of one roller immediately adjacent the sides of the ridges of the other roller with an interstice therebetween, and power means connected to said rollers to rotate said rollers in opposite directions of rotation.

8. A device for removing the lining from poultry gizzards, said device including a frame, a pair of lrollers each having a plurality of spaced annular ridges thereabout, said rollers being journaled in said frame with the ridges of one roller interdigitating with the ridges of the other roller, said ridges having a gizzard supporting surface on the periph-ery thereof and Ia plurality of grooves across said surface, said grooves being positioned substantially parallel to the axis of the roller, the portions of said periphery intermediate said grooves being knurled, the ridges of each roller being only slightly smaller in thickness than the distance between the ridges ofthe other roller to form an interstice therebetween, and power means connected to said rollers to rotate said rollers in opposite directions of rotation.

9. A device for removing the lining from poultry gizzards, said device including a frame, a pair of rollers each having a plurality of spaced -annular ridges thereabout, said ridges having a gizzard supporting surface on the periphery thereof and with transverse grooves spaced about said surf-ace, said ridges having a -pair of sides transverse to said roller, said rollers being journaled in said frame with the ridges of one roller interdigitating with the ridges of the other roller with the sides of the ridges of one roller irrimediately adjacent the sides of the ridges of the Iother roller with an interstice therebetween, and power means connected to said rollers to rotate said rollers in 4opposite directions of rotation.

'10. A device for removing the lining from poultry gizzards, said device including a frame, a pair` of rollers journaled in said frame, each of said rollers having a plurality -of annular ridges there- `about forming grooves therebetween with the ridges of one roller fitting into the grooves of the other roller. said ridges having a face, at least a portion of which is generally parallel to the roller, each of said ridges being only slightly smaller in thickness than the -distance between the two ridges with which it interdigitates on the other roller to provide a small clearance between the sides of adjacent interdigitating ridges, the radius of each of said ridges plus the radius at the base of the groove into which the ridge ts being slightly smaller than the distance between the `longitudinal axes of the two rollers to provide a small clearance between the ridge and the base of the groove, said ridges having a plurality of notches in the periphery thereof, the notches in the ridges of one roller being staggered with respect to the notches in the ridges of the other roller, the portions of said periphery intermediate said notches being knurled, plates projecting to either side of the upper portions of said two rollers in planes substantially parallel to the longitudinal axes of said rollers, and power means connected to said rollers to rotate said rollers in opposite directions with the interdigitating portions of the rollers turning downwardly.

11. A device for removing the lining from poultry gizzards, said device including a frame, .a pair of rollers, each of said rollers having a plurality 4oi' annular ridges thereabout forming grooves therebetween, said rollers being journaled in said frame with the ridges of one roller fitting into' the grooves of the other roller, said ridges having a face at least a portion of which is generally parallel to the roller, each of said ridges being only slightly smaller in thickness than the distance between the two ridges on the other roller with which it interdigitates to provide only 7 ae'small-elea-rance between-adjacent -interdigitatingf ridges; said ridges havinga plurality offtrans- Versegroovesf-in 4theiaoe thereoffsaidface` intermediatefof saidgrooves-beingfknurled,andi-power means connected =to ysaid rollers to Vrotate "said rollers -in oppositedirectionsofrotation. y

Vll2 .-Ir1 ea-'deViceY-forremoving the :lining from poultryfgizzardspa pair ofyrollers, `each of V said rollers having a plurality of annular-like ridges thereabout forming .grooves therebetween 'With theLridges non -one roller fitting into Ythe grooves of the-other-roller,said'ridges having la. face, at least'one portion of which fisgenerally parallel tothe roller, .and being only'slightly esmaller in thickness than` the `distance between VVthe Vtwo ridges Iof the 4other roller with which it interdigitates vto provide a small clearance -between adjacent interdigitating ridges, and power means connected to .said rollers to rotate said rollers-in oppositedirectionsof rotation. Y

GUY BIDDINGER.

`WILLIAM J. PATTERSON.

8A -REFERENGES CITED -Th'e `fo11owng Areferences tare `-of re''ord in 7:the illeof this patent:

`N"1TED 'STAiS -PAI'"Eirfs Number Name l Date 625,-7-39 Buerk -May 30, 1899 2,008,326 Harvey July16,19? 5 -2,103,002 --Faber Dee. 21, '1937 l2,150,192 sander Mar, li4, 193.9 2,17 1,6111 Tolman et al Sept.j5, 1 '9`39 2,290,812 Norman Y July 21, AV1942 72,477,289 De Moss July 2.61949 algauw weber v v Jannraiaso 2,545,718 Weber l Mar.--20, 1951 vloRiJIcirI PATENTS Number Country Date 179.385 Germany Dec. 1,1'906 

